With the lockdown restrictions easing as we finalise this edition, many businesses and organisations will coming back into operation. Please make direct contact with them for updates.

Parish News

If you are reading this for the first time, and finding it interesting, perhaps you would like to consider having a copy of the Parish News delivered to your door each month.

Do please contact me on 01553 841269, giving your name and address, if you would like a copy delivered, when it is possible to do so.

Sue CookCentral Parish News Distributor

West Winch Food Bank

The West Winch and Setchey Parish Council have teamed up with local resident Toni Pratt to create a village Food Bank for the residents of West Winch and Setchey who are struggling to provide food for themselves and their family due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The parish council has accessed food supplies which are available to residents that are in need. Toni has these foodstuffs available at her home, 239 Main Road, West Winch. Toni’s bungalow is situated next to the Church Rooms. It is emphasised that these food supplies are for those only that are in need; their situation brought about by the coravirus pandemic. If you need access to these food items, then contact Toni Pratt at 239 Main Road, West Winch, Telephone 01553- 390484, or through the Face Book: West Winch Notice board, or from the West Winch and Setchey Parish Council website.

It is intended to expand our village food bank for the duration of the Covid-19 crisis. Residents are kindly asked to donate any non-perishable and in date food items that they can spare to the village food bank. By doing this we are helping our community that are in need. Your donations can be deposited in the boxes outside of Toni’s bungalow or be given to any Parish Councillor who will pass them on to Toni for eventual distribution to the needy.

And finally, huge thanks to Toni, West Winch Parish Council and to those kind hearted people who will donate food items for our needy. It is a huge privilege to live in such a thoughtful and caring community of West Winch and Setchey.

guidelines.Coaching is allowed up to a maximum of 4 people. Social Distancing restrictions need to be observed. The only equipment that can be used are mats and cots: these will have to be sanitized before and after each session.Notices will be displayed at the club stating the rules and instructions that will need to be obeyed.

West Winch Bowls Club

Following on from the government easing of the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, the West Winch Bowls Club committee have recently met and have decided that the Green will be open for play with effect from Monday 15th June at 1200 hours. Members are advised that they can play at anytime but will need to follow strictly and adhere to all the

PARISH COUNCIL MEETINGS

Are now held virtually at 7:30 pm on the Third Tuesday of the monthPlease contact the Parish Clerk if you would like to attend.

Mrs Sarah Watts, 28 Oak Avenue, West Winch,Kings Lynn, PE33 0QJ Tel: 07578191841Email: clerk.westwinchpc@gmail.com

WEST WINCH COMMON

COWS ARE NOW GRAZING ON THE COMMON

THEY WILL PROTECTTHEIR YOUNG

The Countryside Code states that:

By law, you must keep your dog under effective control so that it does not disturb or scare farm animals or wildlife.

On most areas of open country and common land, known as ‘access land’ you must keep your dog on a short lead on most areas of open country and common land between 1 March and 31 July, and all year round near farm animals.

You do not have to put your dog on a lead on public paths, as long as it is under close control. But as a general rule, keep your dog on a lead if you cannot rely on its obedience. By law, farmers are entitled to destroy a dog that injures or worries their animals.

If a farm animal chases you and your dog, it is safer to let your dog off the lead – don’t risk getting hurt by trying to protect it.

Take particular care that your dog doesn’t scare cattle or wander where it might disturb birds that nest on the ground and other wildlife – eggs and young will soon die without protection from their parents.

Everyone knows how unpleasant dog mess is and it can cause infections – so always clean up after your dog and get rid of the mess responsibly. Also make sure your dog is wormed regularly to protect it, other animals and people.

Coronavirus: For the first time in history, we can help save the human race by lying in front of the TV and doing nothing. Let’s not mess this one up!

Cllr Alexandra KempCounty Councillor Clenchwarton and King’s Lynn South01553 63032907920 286636alexandra.kemp.cllr@norfolk.gov.uk

Data ProtectionAs a county councillor acting on your behalf it will be necessary to collect, use and share you or your family’s personal information. When I use personal information for this purpose I am a “data controller” and must give you a privacy notice. To access the privacy notice please enter the following in your search tool to access https://bit.ly/2TKrXRj

West Winch BypassAs the Local County Councillor, I put a Question live to the County’s Cabinet on 8 June, warning about the potential harm to the local economy and to resident’s lives, if 350 houses on the A10 in West Winch come forward before the bypass. The official response was the Administration told the Govt, that 350 houses could come first, in order to improve the case for funding. They should have told the Govt the truth. They said :” Be assured we are doing all we can to press on with the work to secure planning permission and funding to hopefully open the road before much of the early phase of houses are built.”They need to do better than that. “Hopefully” is not good enough. Opening the road after the development starts, and hundreds of houses are already built, would be a disaster. Slowing down the traffic would lead to horrendous congestion. The bill for the road has gone up from £22.8 million to £50 million and I have asked why it has increased so much.I have written to the Govt and asked the Secretary of State to visit the A10 in West Winch to see for himself why we need the funding for the Bypass. Before more houses

The Cabinet voted on Monday set up a new West Norfolk Infrastructure Steering Group of Conservative members to oversee the delivery of the West Winch Bypass and the Lynn Transport Plan. We will watch progress closely.

Watering Lane Drainage WorksDuring this pandemic, Norfolk County Council has postponed the flood-prevention works and pipe-laying on Watering Lane, from June until October due to a “shortage of staff”. But officers are working on plans (again) for traffic on the town’s only bus and cycle-only lane. (The same scheme where the applicant’s agent was later employed as the highways officer.) This is against Govt policy for more bus-and-cycle-only lanes and more pop-up cycle lanes. But, in this town, the County Council is putting traffic on ours and breaking the terms of the £5.3 million Government Grant.

I have raised complaints.

SENDThe Ofsted Report, released this week, says Norfolk County Council needs to do much more to help children with Special Educational Needs and also young people with SEND aged 18-25 and has to set up a Written Statement of Action. I fully support the County Council’s transformation work for Children’s Services, which has already started for Children in Care and Care Leavers. There is a Supported Internships Scheme to support young people with disabilities into work and I want to see this exended.Stability, reduced turnover and loyalty to the workplace, and ( with aspergers) attention to detail, are just some of the benefits that people with disabilities bring. If you run a small business and would like to offer a supported placement or job to a Young Person with disabilities, please contact Norfolk County Council Children’s Services.

Data Protection

As a county councillor acting on your behalf it will be necessary to collect, use and share you or your family’s personal information. When I use personal information for this purpose I am a “data controller” and must give you a privacy notice. To access the privacy notice please enter the following in your search tool to access https://bit.ly/2TKrXRj

Crazy?

Our minister wanted the title of his next sermon to be posted ahead of time on the church website. He rang our church warden and said that the title was to be: ‘Are Ministers Crazy?’

Not hearing this as a question, the church warden dutifully posted: ‘Our Minister’s Crazy.’

Margaret Elizabeth (Peggy) Johnson

29 April 1925 - 11 June 2020

It seemed right that our first funeral in church afterlockdown allowed Peggy to come into our lovely oldchurch, her church, for the last time. Hallowed as it isby the prayers of countless generation and moreimportantly for so many years by those of Peggyherself.

Peggy had lived in West Winch for many years and it was only a few monthsago, following a bad fall, that she was unable to return home and moved into King’s Lynn Residential Home. It was there she celebrated her 95th birthday on the 29th April this year.

Peggy was a much loved and faithful member of our church here. We shall miss her but take our final farewells of her in this life confident that she is in the safe keeping of the God she served so faithfully

God saw her footsteps falter, The hill was hard to climb, He closed her weary eyelids, and wispered Peace be thine.

Peggy wished the following poem by Joyce Grenfell as her final parting words.

If I should go before the rest of youBreak not a flower nor inscribe a stone

Nor when I’m gone speak in a Sunday voiceBut be the usual selves that I have known

Weep if you must,Parting is hell,

But life goes on,So sing as well

From our Parish RegistersChristian Funeral

Margaret Elizabeth (Peggy)Johnson

Funeral Service in St. Mary’sFollowed by burial in the Churchyard

26 June 2020

Into your hands, O merciful Saviour, we commend your servant Peggy.

Acknowledge, We humbly beseech you,a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock,

a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy,

into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light.

May her soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen

The Middlewinch BeneficeWest Winch with Setchey, Middleton,

North Runcton & East Winch with West Bilney

Church Services

Our benefice churches are currently closed for public worship although funerals with limited attendance are now permitted. Permission has been given to resume public worship subject to fairly tight restriction from 4th July. We are currently awaiting further guidance before deciding how and when this can be done.Weddings with up to 30 persons present can also begin after 4th July

Watch this space!!!

Canon Paul Hardingham considers some comforting words from Isaiah.

The Frailty of Life

According to one survey, during the lockdown, a quarter of adults in the UK have watched or listened to a religious service and one in 20 have started praying. While the majority of people who contract Covid-19 survive, it reminds us that we are much more frail and weak than we like to think. As the prophet Isaiah says:

‘All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures for ever.’ (Isaiah 40:6-8). Isaiah’s words really resonate at this time. In more normal times we can avoid facing up to our vulnerability, but this pandemic has forced us to recognise our weakness and fragility.

However, this shouldn’t lead us to despair or fear; rather it is an opportunity to worship and praise for His constancy and care. In Peter’s first letter he quotes this passage from Isaiah and says, ‘For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God’ (1 Peter 1:23). Peter contrasts our mortality with the eternal Word of God, which bring us new birth and life through the power of the Spirit. Jesus died for our sins and rose again to make us right with God, so that trough faith in Him we can know eternal life. We don’t need to be afraid of our frailty, for God is a dependable foundation on which to build our lives and face eternity.

‘We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree. And wither and perish, but nought changeth Thee.’ (Immortal, invisible, Walter C Smith).

Prayer is not an argument with God to persuade Him to move things our way,but an exercise by which we are enabled by His spirit to move things His way. -

Anon

Why did God make mothers?Here are some of the answers seven-year-olds gave to the following questions…

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mum?God knew she likes me a lot more than other kids’ mums like me.What kind of little girl was your mum?I don’t know because I wasn’t there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.What did your mum need to know about your dad before she married him?His last name.Why did your mum marry your dad?She got too old to do anything else with him.What’s the difference between mums & dads?Mum knows how to talk to teachers without scaring them.What would it take to make your mum perfect?On the inside she’s already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.

Solutionon

Last Page

Here for what?A parishioner was confiding to his vicar: ‘When you get to my age, you spend a lot more time thinking about the hereafter.’ ‘That’s good,’ approved the vicar, ‘and what do you conclude?’‘Nothing much,’ went on the parishioner. ‘It’s just that more and more I find myself going into a room and thinking ‘now what on earth did I come in here after?’

Please be aware of the following very plausible and concerning telephone track & trace scam

which was reported last week

Good morning, I’m calling from the NHS track and trace service. According to our system, you are likely to have been in close proximity to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. This means that you now need to self-isolate for 7 days and take a COVID-19 test.’

‘OK. Can you tell me who that person was?’

‘I’m not able to tell you that. That is confidential information.’

‘Right….so ....’

‘But you do need to be tested within the next 72 hours. So can I just get the best mailing address so that we can send a kit to you?’

‘OK (gives address)’

‘Thank you - and I just need to take a payment card so that we can finalise this and send the kit to you.’

‘Sorry - a payment card? I thought this was all free?’

‘No - I’m afraid not. There is a one-off fee of £50 for the kit, and test results. Could you read off the long card number for me, please, when you’re ready.’

‘No - that’s not right. This is part of the NHS so there’s no charge.’

‘I’m afraid there is. Can you give me the card number please - this is very important, and there are penalties for not complying.’

Test & Trace Scams

There are lots of reports across social media ofTest & Trace scams. Please remember, genuine texts, calls or emails from the NHS service won’t ask you for

any personal details upfront. You’ll be given a unique ID number to log in to the NHS Test and Trace website. The ONLY official web address for the NHS Test and Trace serviceis: https://contact-tracing.phe.gov.uk/ Once you’ve logged in using your ID, you’ll be asked to enter some basic information about yourself including:

Your name, date of birth and current address the names of the people you live with places you’ve recently visited names and contact details of people you were in touch with around 48 hours before you developed symptoms. You won’t be asked to share this information upfront over a call or text, so if someone is asking you for it directly, they are a scammer.Contact tracers will never:ask you to dial a premium rate number to speak to us (for example, those starting 09 or 087)ask you to make any form of payment or purchase a product of any kindask for any details about your bank accountask for your social media identities or login details, or those of your contactsask you for any passwords or PINs, or ask you to set up any passwords or PINs over the phonedisclose any of your personal or medical information to your contactsprovide medical advice on the treatment of any potential coronavirus syptomsask you to download any software to your PC or ask you to hand over control of your PC, smartphone or tablet to anyone else

ask you to access any website that does not belong to the government or NHSStay scam aware, and report any suspicious approaches to Norfolk Trading Standards via 0808 223 1133.

TheRevd Dr Gary Bowness continues histongue-in-cheek letters from ‘Uncle Eustace’…

for such occasions.

Anyone who thinks we are an unimaginative nation should visit a church after a special service to see how many places members of congregations can invent to hide the booklets: under kneelers, neatly folded and hidden inside hymn books, among flower arrangements and behind heating pipes so that no one can quite reach them. They then lurk there reproachfully for the next ten years until mice solve the problem.

No, stick to large, hard bound books. They are resistant to teeth and are too substantial to be hidden in pockets. Their only drawback is that they tend to fall victim to the pull of gravity at the quietest moments.

Your loving uncle, Eustace

this was written before lockdown.

Beware the spell-checker on your special service sheets!

The RectorySt James the Least

My dear Nephew Darren

When producing material for your magazine or church services, beware the computer spell-checker. We once let our own system check a Christmas carol sheet and, on the night, found ourselves obliged to sing “away in a manager”, mangers apparently being unknown to our machine.

If you use special sheets regularly, it seems a law of nature – as with metal coat hangers - that they all intermingle while no one is watching. Thus, on Easter Day, half the congregation will have been issued with sheets for Harvest, which will only become obvious once the service begins. The first hymn will be entirely lost while sidesmen scuttle about looking for replacements only to find that there won’t be enough of them anyway and then the second hymn will be lost while others helpfully wander about church donating their sheets to those looking helpless and then trying to find someone to share with.

Never, ever, print on them ‘Do not take home’ as this will only ensure everyone does so. I have sometimes wondered if the instruction ‘Take this sheet home for reference’ would ensure that they stayed neatly arranged in the pews after the service. And if it is a service where babies are likely to be present, be assured that many of the copies will be returned half chewed and coated with bits of whatever the infant had for breakfast. There must be a market for paper treated with a child-repellent flavour

Table Tennis in the Church RoomsIN ABEYANCE UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Table Tennis is held every Friday.

It is held in the Church Rooms opposite the Post Officefrom 6.30pm to 8.30pm. Refreshments are available.

Players range from beginners to more experienced. We have up to 10 regular players but more villagers are very welcome to come along.

Children can be accommodated by prior agreement from 6.00pm.

For more information please contact the Secretary

Sheila Pearce on 01553 841132

or Judy & Peter Jackson on 01553 840823 Email: jajww1@gmail.com

David Pickup, a solicitor, considers some legal problems caused by lockdown.

Lawyers in Lockdown

For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver… (Isaiah 33:22)

The last few months has proved a busy time for many solicitors. Sadly, the added stress, uncertainty, isolation, and changes to daily life brought on by coronavirus has led to many disputes. People have ended up fighting their business contacts, colleagues, neighbours and even family members,

Strangers may also prove a threat. There are increasing numbers of scam emails, as crooks try to hack into your computer or try to get you to invest in some get-rich-quick scheme. Then there are those advertisements for gambling on television. They are disguised as ‘fun’, but in reality, they are anything but fun: gambling during lockdown can escalate very quickly.

The lockdown has thrown up some questions: what to do if the post office is prevented from delivering mail to tenants on an estate and whether you still have to pay rent for a student accommodation if the student has gone home. The tenants have a right to receive mail and the answer to the other question is probably ‘yes’, because student lets are often for a fixed period without an option to end the letting early.

People are spending more time close together, although in isolation. This can lead to domestic violence and anti-social behaviour. Neighbours, tenants and landlords can get on each other’s nerves. Anti-social behaviour indoors or outdoors is always taken seriously by the authorities.

Some of us are spending more time in the garden and this can lead to noticing problems about that tree which overhangs your house and the branches that bang on the roof in a high wind or the fence that needs a repair.

Being a good neighbour/colleague/family member is more important now than ever. It is always best to first talk to people - at a safe distance!

Actual complaints received by a resort chain (before lockdown!)

On my holiday to India, I was disgusted to find that almost every restaurant served curry. I don’t like spicy food.

We booked an excursion to a water park, but no one told us we had to bring our own swimsuits and towels. We assumed it would be included in the price.

The beach was too sandy. We had to clean everything when we returned to our room.

No one told us there would be fish in the water. The children were scared.

It took us nine hours to fly home from Jamaica to England. It took the Americans only three hours to get home. This seems unfair.

We had to line up outside to catch the boat and there was no air-conditioning.

I was bitten by a mosquito. The brochure did not mention mosquitoes.

Over-65s go shopping online

When you can’t go out, go shopping. That seems to be the decision of many people over 65.

Record numbers of over-65s have signed up for online banking, according to recent data from Halifax. And they are now shopping online twice as much as a year ago, after being forced to stay home during lockdown.

Overall, the proportion of transactions being made online by those over the age of 65 has doubled, climbing from 20 per cent to 40 per cent.

PARISH NEWS CENTRAL DISTRIBUTOR

Mrs S Cook 841269(To locate your local distributor please contact Mrs S Cook above)

EditorDuncan Garford Tel: 840223

ITEMS FOR INCLUSION IN NEXT MONTHS EDITION SHOULD BE SENT TO:-

31 Gravel Hill Lane, West WinchEmail Contributions to: duncangarford@btinternet.com

by 13th July 2020

SudokuSolution

PARISH NEWS THE MAGAZINE OF ST. MARY’S CHURCH& THE VILLAGES OF WEST WINCH & SETCHEY

In addition to church news, we give details of village events. We are pleased to receive articles from village organisations and individuals.

We will do our best to publish them.

The opinions expressed by contributors to this magazine and its advertisers are not necessarily those of the editor or

St. Mary’s Parochial Church Council.

The editor reserves the right to edit all material submitted to this magazine for publication

Parish News complies with GDPR regulationspersonal information will only be included with the individuals consent

and removed on request.